[luv2ski]

Does anyone know how far back (in time) someone can be at this stage and still have a shot at the podium?

Theoretically, a rider could be more than 10 min back at this point and still make it up but practically, that doesn't happen. Anyone who has a legitimate shot (Landis, Hincapie, Kloden,etc) will be chased if they try to get away from the peloton which, of course, is the only way to make up big time gaps. The way that a rider can succeed, however, is if he can ride like Lance did- truly riding away from the pack that is incapable of following. Frankly, I don't see a rider being that dominant this year. Lance had a way of dancing on his pedals and devastating the field. We also have the ITT the next to last day so a rider who is a lousy TTr would have to build a heck of an advantage to protect his lead that day or he'd have to ride a strong ITT himself- favors riders like Landis IMO.

[Ready4Freddy]

iguana verde may have alluded to it in his post #50, but help me out here - I seem to remember Lance being at least 10 min down in 2000 or 2001, as they approached the Pyrenees. Seems like the Tour was going counter-clockwise that year as well. Anyway, Lance pulled a MONSTER climb on the first Pyrenees stage, and lept into the yellow jersey. Think he took 2nd in the stage to a bona-fide mountain goat, but he put major time on his GC competition, and never looked back.

Does anyone remember this even vaguely as I described it? What year / what mountain? luv2ski seems to have a great memory for such things, help us out here!! ;>)

Theoretically, a rider could be more than 10 min back at this point and still make it up but practically, that doesn't happen.